The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has issued new travel directives to passengers intending to fly from and to Entebbe International Airport following increasing number of people accessing the airport.
In a public notice dated December 18, 2020, UCAA directed that effective from Saturday December 19, 2020, departing and arriving passengers will only be dropped or picked from the airport by at most, two people, including the driver of the car in order to avoid unnecessary crowding at the airport.
“Departing passengers are also reminded to have an authentic and valid negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test certificate issued within 120 hours from the time of sample collection to the time of boarding the aircraft even if the country the passenger is going to does not require it. In case the destination country requires a COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued within less than 120 hours, the number of hours indicated by the destination country take priority,” said UCAA.
The notice further demands that the PCR test certificate should be accompanied with a receipt from the test centre or laboratory. UCAA also requires passengers to obtain the authentic and valid negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin issued within 120 hours from the time of sample collection to the time of boarding the aircraft leaving the country of origin.
enior golfers Fred Kasumba and Ruth Ssali emerged overall winners of the CAA Seniors Open Golf Championship in the men’s and women’s pools respectively on Saturday at Uganda Golf Club’s (UGC) par-72 course in Kitante.
Kasumba was tied with Caleb Kakuyo off 72 nett but beat him on count back while Ssali had 76 nett while last year’s ladies winner Jenina Nasimolo finished as runner up with 77.
“It’s unbelievable today that I’m the overall winner because in the front nine I didn’t do well at all as I played 47. I got a stomachache somewhere in the back nine and I said to my self you must finish this tournament,” Kasumba who also claimed seniors nearest to the pin honors told the audience at the 19th hole.
“I sat down after finishing each hole but I hanged on. I played a few birdies in the front nine and about four pars on the back nine.
In each hole that I played badly, I shifted focus to the next one,” Kasumba noted at the event primarily meant for golfers aged 55 years and above.
Kasumba, Ssali won themselves an accommodation of two each at Trackers Lodge in Bwindi that must be utilized between 27 – 28 December 2020.
Men’s gross winner was Joseph Bagabo off 87 nett on count back while Edrae Kagambe was ladies gross winner with 91 nett.
Gross winners were awarded with air tickets courtesy of Uganda Airlines and they will travel to any East African country of their choice.
In the gold category (70+ years), Uganda Senior Golfing Society Chairperson Mark Ntege emerged winner with 75 nett while Sam Zaramba was runner-up off 76.
Dave Plenderleith was the Silver (65-69 years) winner off 73 nett while Patrick Kagoro was runner-up with 76 on count back.
In the bronze (55-64 years) category, Caleb Kakuyo was winner with 72 nett while Henry Rugamba emerged second with 74 nett.
CAA’s Hellen Wenene Kakuru graced the tournament that also doubled as the flagship event for the Aviation Week.
“Next year we shall be doing the same thing because you golfers are our key stake holders,” Wenene assured seniors before highlighting the current hardships facing the airline industry in this COVID-19 times.
Meanwhile, players under 55 years also graced the championship and played in a subsidiary event.
Rodell Gaita, Paul Kalemba and Ignatius Twesigye were the men’s group A, B and C winners off 68, 71 and 67 nett respectively.
Judith Komugisha beat Peace Kabasweka with 70 on count back while in women’s group A, Victoria Bagaya was winner off 68 nett with Hisea Koshiba finishing as runner up with 70 nett.
The 2020 Seniors Open Golf Championship was sponsored by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Uganda Airlines, Uganda Breweries Limited, Pepsi Cola and Tracker Safaris.
Barely two months after the resumption of commercial passenger flights, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has recorded an average increase in the number of passengers using Entebbe Airport.
Fred Bamwesigye the UCAA acting director-general noted that Entebbe Airport recorded 42,633 international passengers in October when commercial passenger flights had just resumed.
“Among those, 23,867 were arriving while 15,461 were departing and 3,305 were transit passengers,” noted Bamwesigye, putting the average number of passengers who used Entebbe Airport, at 1,375 in October.
He further noted that the daily average increased to 1,676 passengers in November with about 41,905 who were recorded in the month’s first 25 days.
“On the side of cargo, Entebbe Airport handled an impressive 5,542 metric tonnes of cargo in October 2020,” Bamwesigye stated.
It is upon this background that the aviation authority found it necessary to increase the number of flights per airline per day from one (as earlier directed), to at least two flights.
However, Uganda Airlines continues to operate frequently which, according to Bamwesigye, is due to the many responsibilities and tasks assigned to the national carrier, and given the fact that Entebbe Airport is the home of the airline.
Although UCAA continues to record a steady increase in the number of passengers who use Entebbe Airport upon resumption of commercial passenger flights, the numbers are still low compared to the average of 5,000 passengers who used the airport on a daily, before the outbreak of COVID-19.
Upgrade and expansion
In order to maintain strict observation of the COVID-19 standard operating procedures such as social distancing, UCAA recently completed the reconfiguration of the passenger boarding lounges by removing the partitions to provide more space and sitting area in the terminal.
Part of the first floor of the new terminal building was opened to facilitate departing passengers with adequate queuing space at the check-in counters.
According to Eng. Daniel Kiyimba, glass shields were erected at check-in counters, immigration booths, and facilitation desks to reduce direct contact between airport staff and passengers.
“The overall upgrade and expansion works which are being undertaken by China Communication Construction Company, is at 72% level of completion,” intimated Bamwesigye.
Vianney Luggya the UCAA public affairs manager said, all the improved initiatives will go a long way in improving safety, the efficiency of airport systems, and attainment of sustainability through the strengthening of the resources available at UCAA.
By Julius Luwemba
Added 3rd December 2020 12:06 PM
The boat can rescue up to 50 people in case of any accidents.
Unlike the previous boats, the new Rigid Hull Foam Pontoon boat is mounted with fire-fighting muzzle. Photo by Julius Luwemba
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) unveiled a new marine rescue boat which was procured at sh1.4b, bringing to a total of four marine rescue boats currently owned by the aviation authority.
The new Rigid Hull Foam Pontoon manufactured by Asis, a Dubai-based boat company, was launched onWednesdayat one of UCAA’s marine piers.
Eng. Ayub Sooma the director for airports and aviation security noted that the new rescue boat uses state-of-the-art technology and can rescue up to 50 people in case of any accidents.
“It has the Global Positioning System (GPS), echo-sounder, beat-locator and a water pump which is manually operated to put out a fire in a distance of 9.5metres,” described Sooma, adding that the new boat, like the other three, has an engine capacity of 500 horsepower and can travel at a speed of 50 notes.
Asis Boats’ Ibrahim Rizk (right) with Eng. Ayub Sooma (2nd right) handing over a certificate to Solomon one of the trainees as UCAA’s Emmanuel Barungi (left) looks on. Photo by Julius Luwemba
Each of the other three (3) rescue boats has more than three life-rafts which could rescue a total of 400 people in case of any accidents.
“As the industry grows with advances in technology, fire-fighting and marine rescue operations have become more sophisticated and challenging, hence a need for UCAA to continuously train personnel and have equipment that is up to the task,” further explained Sooma.
Registration of Providers on the Electronic Government Procurement (EGP) System
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) is a government statutory entity responsible for the promotion of the safe, secure and efficient development of Civil Aviation inside and outside Uganda.
UCAA is one of the Pilot Entities selected by the Government of Uganda to implement the EGP system. EFFECTIVE 1ST DECEMBER 2020, UCAA will only be inviting providers electronically for tenders of supplies, services and works, and all procurement and disposal activities shall be conducted online on the eGP web based system.
UCAA therefore advises all its pre-qualified providers and others interested in doing business with the entity to immediately register their company details on the EGP online system by 30th November 2020 at https://egpuganda.go.ug
UCAA will conduct a boot camp to assist its prequalified providers with the registration on the EGP system from Monday 16th to Friday 20th November 2020 between 10.00am and 4.00pm.
Please bring the following documents with you:
Registration requirements
URSB Number, TIN Number, NSSF number(Optional), List of directors of the Company
Attachments Must be Scanned
Trading License, Certificate of Incorporation, TIN Registration Certificate, Powers of attorney.
The company MUST have an active email address and telephone number.
NOTE: That the company registered Name at URSB and URA must be the exactly the same
Modern Distillers Ltd donated 2550 Hand Sanitizers to Uganda Civil Aviation Authority on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 to ease the work of the frontline workers in guarding against the spread of COVID – 19 at Entebbe International Airport.
The items were handed over by Mr. Vishan Patel, the Director of Modern Distillers Ltd, to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Ag. General Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Barungi at the UCAA Head office.
“The items will be put to good use to mitigate the spread of COVID – 19 at Entebbe International Airport”, said Mr. Barungi as he received the safety equipment.
He expressed gratitude towards Modern Distillers’ Limited. “I thank Modern Distillers Ltd for the benevolent gesture, which is aimed at enhancing safety of airport workers and passengers,” he said.
Mr. Balungi noted that a number of interventions had been undertaken by Government of Uganda and are being implemented by UCAA to provide a conducive environment for the users of Entebbe International Airport.
Such Interventions include:
Installation of automated sanitizers at various points within the terminal building.
Social distancing marks on the ground and on passenger waiting seats within the lounges.
Erection of glass shields at Immigration and check in counters to avoid direct interface of officers with the passengers.
Emphasis on wearing of face masks at the airport.
Temperature screening at all points of entry to the airport.
There are ongoing efforts to create more space in the waiting lounges by removing the partitions to create open lounges that accord more space for social distancing.
We have noted with concern that some people with deceitful intentions are taking advantage of unsuspecting members of the public to dupe them into believing that they have received packages/parcels from abroad. The culprits excite and convince their victims by posting photos of the alleged parcels on their Whatsapp or Facebook inbox and then solicit for money transmission via mobile money to allegedly clear the commodities.
The Public is hereby advised to desist from dealing with such conmen who disguise themselves as workers at Entebbe International Airport, and also refrain from making any payments for cargo clearance using mobile money. In case anyone is expecting a consignment through the airport, it is advisable to first verify with the airline that allegedly brought it or physically visit the airport to interface with the respective ground handler (NAS on Tel: 0791633057 or DAS on Tel: 0772419581 or 0705045056).
CAA officials are optimistic that the aviation industry is slowly getting back to its feet by adjusting to the new way of doing business with the observance of health Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Park Youngshin (2nd right) handing over masks to CAA officials at Entebb airport (Photo by Julius Luwemba)
The international aviation industry continues to recover at a snail pace after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Uganda, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) registers about 1,200 passengers every day since the resumption of passenger flights.
According to Eng. Ayub Sooma, the director for airports and aviation security, the first three days since Entebbe airport was reopened for passenger flights on October 1, saw the registration of a high number of passengers, especially those coming into the country.
“However, the number has since reduced, even though Uganda is still among the airports in the world that have registered quite a high number of travelers since passenger flights resumed,” noted Eng Sooma.
He said Entebbe International Airport used to receive about 5,400 passengers daily, before the Covid-19 outbreak which was followed by a partial lock-down of the aviation industry.
He made the remarks while receiving a consignment of masks and other Covid-19 safety equipment that were donated by the Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) at the Entebbe airport.
“The equipment will go a long way in ensuring the safety of passengers and front-line airport staff,” stated Eng. Sooma adding that KOICA partnered with the CAA in 2018 to modernise aeronautical infrastructure in the country.
Officials from the CAA and the South Korean government monitoring work in the Terminal Operation Control Centre at Entebbe airport. (Photo by Julius Luwemba)
There is an on-going automation of systems at Entebbe airport as part of the US$9.5m grant from the Korean government. A terminal operations control centre and training facility have been erected to deliver a computerised maintenance management system and air traffic message handling system among others.
Meanwhile, Vianney Luggya the CAA Public Affairs manager noted that on the first day (October 1), 1,362 passengers were recorded, out of whom, 761 were arriving whereas 601 were departing.
“On day two, we recorded 1,483 passengers, 848 of whom were arriving and 635 were departing,” Luggya said.
According to Luggya, before the Covid-19 outbreak, between 100-120 flights were being registered at Entebbe airport every day. When passenger operations were suspended, flight handlers started seeing between 7-14 flights every day, majorly with cargo.
Last year, Entebbe airport saw 1.98 million passengers go through its gates, a 7.6% increase from the 2018 figure of 1.84 million.
Based on these numbers, the airport authorities were ready to see at least two million travelers depart, arrive or go through the airport this year.
Passenger traffic in January this year was registered at 150,000 people, which number fell by 7.1% in February to about 140,000. In April, passenger traffic fell to only 987, which number kept reducing until the repatriation exercise began.
CAA officials are optimistic that the aviation industry is slowly getting back to its feet by adjusting to the new way of doing business with the observance of health Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The COVID -19 pandemic has greatly affected the aviation sector introducing risks that need to be mitigated both during these prevailing conditions and the post COVID environment. Therefore the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), through the Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) Report, has provided Member States and the relevant industry stakeholders with global guidance for a safe, secure and sustainable restart and recovery of the aviation sector.
In order to boost public and passenger confidence in air travel, the Uganda Civil Aviation has developed draft take-off guidelines based on global and regional harmonized approach on COVID-19 Pandemic. The guidelines developed aim at helping the aviation sector in its preparations for resumption of normal operations.
A risk management based approach was utilized in the development of the guidance material to manage the risk of transmission of COVID – 19 during commercial Air Transport of passengers.
2.0 Objective
The objective is to:
Provide operators with more alternative methods of implementing the mitigating measures categorized under the general public health risks and specific risk mitigations for the Airport, Aircraft, Crew and Cargo.
Provide sample forms that the operators could use in implementing the mitigating measures.
3.0 Action Required
The various operators as the major implementers of these mitigation measures are hereby invited to review and provide feedback on the draft guidance to enhance a collaborative approach to managing the pandemic.
Submit any feedback on the guidance by email to dat@caa.co.ug by 27th August 2020.
